sick e/ee - e/or asking for copy of prescription

[superlightr]

Staff member off sick since Monday, headache/temperature. emails in from her each day saying feeling unwell. we called to speak with her yesterday afternoon 5pmish and could not get an answer but left message. Spoke with her today and she said went to out of hours doctors last night and now on antibiotics for a urine infection.

Is she taking the pish?

Is it reasonable to ask for a copy of the prescription/copy of the label on the bottle which will show what medication and date. We have doubts about if this is genuine. She has not been signed off work understand Doctors dont now unless 7 days?

thanks

Edited by superlightr on Thursday 10th March 13:12

[superlightr]

it makes no mention of copying a prescription. We would think it not unreasonable to ask to see some 'proof' of what she has told us is true. Hence why thinking about asking for a copy of the prescription bottle.

[extraT]

Self certification is for a week, you can't ask for a prescription, if a doc thinks she needs more time off she will have a letter or turn up to work on Monday.

[essayer]

After seven days, once she's well enough to return to work, she can get a 'fit note' from her doctor. There is no 'sick note' any more, nor should you hassle her while she's ill..

Your contract of employment may well have additional requirements to enable payment of salary in addition to SSP while off sick, etc.

[BRISTOL86]

Short answer...no it's not reasonable under the circumstances to ask to see a prescription.

[anothernameitist]

Would you do the same to all staff.

if not its discrimination, don't go there

[andy-xr]

Someone's taking the piss, I'm not sure it's the employee though!

[Jasandjules]

No it is not.

[superlightr]

Thank you for the replies.

We wont ask for it.

[Vaud]

https://www.gov.uk/taking-sick-leave

and

http://fitforwork.org/employee/returning-to-work/y...

Note:

If you’re off work for seven days or less, your employer shouldn’t ask you to provide medical evidence that you were unwell or injured. However, they can ask you to provide proof and you should be prepared to show your employer your fit note (sick note) or complete a self-certification form when you return to work.

and

What if I can’t prove I was ill or injured?
If you’re unable to prove why you needed to take time off, your employer could withhold any sick pay you might be entitled to.
The law does not state what evidence you must give to your employer to prove you needed to take sick leave, but your organisation’s sickness absence policy, or contract of employment, might specify what you need to produce and at what times during or after your absence.

In other words, tread carefully and have them complete a self-cert form.

[superlightr]

appreciate the objective views.

[Vaud]

superlightr said:

appreciate the objective views.

I can do ill informed and biased ranting if you prefer.

[superlightr]

Vaud said:

superlightr said:

appreciate the objective views.

I can do ill informed and biased ranting if you prefer.

thank you but Im more then able to do that myself.

[TankRizzo]

What does your sickness policy say about daily contact for notifying manager? Mine explicitly forbids email or text notification of absence (except in extreme circumstances obviously)

[superlightr]

It says that they should telephone by 9am each day. She emailed each time hence why we telephoned Wednesday. off today as well by telephoned.

[andy-xr]

There's a bit of a difference between emailing instead of phoning and "liar. Show us yet prescription"

If you'd said for instance "wed like to know in case it impacts your work and your safety" then that's something else but wanting a copy (data protection and storage) to see if she's a liar (bullying and unfair) is going far beyond your duty of care to anyone

[Sir Bagalot]

Calling them at home could be seen as harrassment unless you have a very good reason.

What does the sickness policy say about letting people know? Many forbit text/email and say a phone call before 10am

[davepoth]

superlightr said:

It says that they should telephone by 9am each day. She emailed each time hence why we telephoned Wednesday. off today as well by telephoned.

And that's for a very good reason. It's much trickier to divert a landline invisibly so nobody can see that you're in Magaluf.

[quinny100]

Sir Bagalot said:

Calling them at home could be seen as harrassment unless you have a very good reason.

Calling an employee at home when off sick is not harassment. You are perfectly entitled to call to check on their welfare and enquire as to when they will be back, especially if they haven't called you and followed policy - I'd actually suggest it's advisable in such instances.

You've got no proof who wrote the emails, she could be a victim of domestic abuse and been beaten up for example.

Just to be clear, if you rang 10 times a day, called them lazy skiver and told them they should get their sorry ass back to work pronto or they'll be fired, that might well be considered harassment.

Asking for the prescription is a no-no,

[Blown2CV]

there are advice lines for this type of thing, and i'd speak to your own HR people rather than coming on here!